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Director Chemistry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn't just an aspiration-it's our everyday ... The Senior Account Director manages client relationships on large or multiple engagements. They ...

UWorld is seeking a collaborative, mission-driven Chemistry Department Lead to direct a talented team of educators and content developers across MCAT Chemistry. In this role, you will guide content ...

UWorld is seeking a collaborative, mission-driven Chemistry Department Lead to direct a talented team of educators and content developers across MCAT Chemistry. In this role, you will guide content ...

Senior Director, AIRx Medicinal Chemistry

Boston, MA ยท On-site +1

$212K - $333K/yr

Senior Director, AIRx Medicinal Chemistry Takeda Research is constructing the Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR) group built on AI, automation, new ways of working, and talent with the singular ...

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Director Chemistry information

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$28K

$116.5K

$187.5K

How much do director chemistry jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director chemistry in the United States is $116,457.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,000.00 and $162,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of chemistry in managing multidisciplinary research teams?

A Director of Chemistry often coordinates projects involving chemists, biologists, engineers, and other specialists. One common challenge is ensuring effective communication and collaboration across these diverse teams, as each discipline may have different approaches and terminologies. Balancing administrative responsibilities with staying current on scientific advancements can also be demanding. Additionally, the Director must prioritize projects, allocate resources efficiently, and foster a culture of innovation while meeting organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

What does a director of chemistry do?

A Director of Chemistry is a senior leader responsible for overseeing the operations and strategic direction of a chemistry department or division, often within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or research organization. Their duties include managing teams of chemists, setting research priorities, allocating resources, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, and collaborating with other departments. They play a key role in driving innovation, guiding project development, and ensuring the quality and integrity of scientific work. The Director of Chemistry also mentors staff, manages budgets, and represents the department in executive meetings.

What careers in chemistry make the most money?

In chemistry, roles such as pharmaceutical chemist, chemical engineer, and materials scientist tend to have the highest salaries. These positions often require advanced degrees, specialized skills, and experience working with complex laboratory equipment and regulatory standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of chemistry?

To thrive as a Director of Chemistry, you need an advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in chemistry or a related field, with significant experience in research, laboratory management, and regulatory compliance. Expertise in analytical instrumentation, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and familiarity with industry standards such as GLP or GMP is often required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication are essential soft skills for managing teams and driving innovation. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure scientific excellence, regulatory adherence, and successful project delivery in a complex and dynamic environment.

What are 20 careers in chemistry?

A chemistry professional, such as a chemist or chemical engineer, can pursue careers in pharmaceuticals, environmental science, materials science, food safety, forensic science, quality control, research and development, teaching, patent law, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, consulting, toxicology, cosmetics, polymers, nanotechnology, academia, government agencies, sales and technical support, and laboratory management. These roles often require strong analytical skills, laboratory expertise, and relevant certifications or degrees. The field offers diverse opportunities across industries focused on innovation, safety, and scientific advancement.

What are the top 5 chemistry careers?

Top chemistry careers include roles such as chemical researcher, quality control analyst, process development scientist, pharmaceutical chemist, and environmental chemist. These positions often require strong laboratory skills, knowledge of chemical analysis tools, and relevant degrees in chemistry or related fields.

What is the difference between Director Chemistry vs Senior Chemist?

AspectDirector ChemistrySenior Chemist
Required CredentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD preferred), extensive experience, leadership skillsTypically a Master's or PhD, specialized technical expertise
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, team management, cross-department collaborationLaboratory research, experimental design, technical analysis
Employer & Industry UsageResearch & development departments, pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturingResearch labs, product development, quality control

The main difference between Director Chemistry and Senior Chemist lies in their scope of responsibilities and experience. Directors focus on strategic leadership and managing teams, while Senior Chemists are more involved in hands-on research and technical tasks. Both roles require strong chemistry expertise, but the Director role emphasizes leadership and oversight.

More about Director Chemistry jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Chemistry jobs? Cities with the most Director Chemistry job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Chemistry jobs? The most popular types of Chemistry jobs are:
What states have the most Director Chemistry jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Chemistry jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Chemistry jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Chemistry jobs are:
Infographic showing various Director Chemistry job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,457 per year, or $56 per hour.

Associate Director/Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Rezo Therapeutics

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$160K - $240K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

About Rezo Therapeutics
Rezo is a different kind of biopharma company. Our mission is to dramatically increase the success rate of drug development by building a disease-agnostic, fully-integrated, network biology platform that will redefine our understanding of human disease and ability to treat it.
We are leveraging a unique integrated approach, combining capabilities in genetics, proteomics, structural biology and AI to generate deep biological insights and novel therapeutic approaches.
Located in San Francisco's vibrant Mission Bay neighborhood, Rezo is in close proximity to UCSF, numerous urban amenities, and outdoor recreational opportunities. We recognize that realizing our mission depends as much on our people as it does on our science and are building a workplace that fosters collaboration, respect, and diversity where contributing to your team's success is valued as highly as individual achievements. If you're passionate about team science and breaking down barriers to progress in drug development, please consider joining us!
The Opportunity
We are seeking a highly enthusiastic and motivated Medicinal Chemistry program leader to join our Discovery team. This role will contribute to the discovery of precision medicines through the design of small molecules, cross-functional collaborations to advance projects and programs, and incorporation of new technologies to accelerate drug discovery targeting protein-protein interactions. Becoming a member of this team is an excellent opportunity to join Rezo at an early stage, help grow the Chemistry group, and expand Rezo's discovery platform.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Design molecules using cutting-edge approaches, applying structure-based drug design (SBDD) and property-based strategies, leveraging computational predictions to optimize potency, selectivity, ADMET, and efficacy profiles.
  • Lead a chemistry program in various stages (ranging from target validation through development candidate selection) and provide strategic input to additional programs in the Rezo portfolio.
  • Collaborate with biology and other cross-functional partners to design key go/no go experiments, optimize testing strategies, align compound design with project goals, and identify compounds to test hypotheses.
  • Strategically select compounds for advancement to ADMET, PK, and physiochemical property assays to test hypotheses and enable decision-making.
  • Manage external synthetic chemistry teams, evaluating analytical data, troubleshooting syntheses, optimizing efficiency of the team.
  • Manage inventory of final compounds. Keep detailed up-to-date records, prepare and ship samples for testing, and ensure proper storage conditions.
  • Ensure that project teams generate rigorous analytical and cellular mechanism-of-action data for small molecule drug candidates.
  • Participate and present at project team and departmental research meetings.
  • Identify and test new strategies and technologies for accelerating the discovery of new medicines and new targets.

Qualifications:
  • PhD in Chemistry or related discipline and a minimum of 7+ years of industrial medicinal chemistry experience beyond the candidate's academic training or a BS and 15+ years of experience.
  • Deep experience with medicinal chemistry, structure-based drug design, covalent chemistry approaches, and ADME optimization.
  • Track record of success in leading medicinal chemistry program(s) and managing external synthesis teams.
  • Exceptional curiosity and creativity in design of compounds, articulating hypotheses, and testing strategies.
  • Highly organized, with an ability to work on extremely complex problems where multiple hypotheses are being tested simultaneously in order to accelerate decision-making.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, works well within a team, and communicates effectively.
  • As a subject matter expert, has in-depth knowledge of medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, covalent chemistry, and a solid working knowledge of cross-functional disciplines such as ADMET optimization and building PK/PD relationships.
  • Thoughtful and respected mentor to junior scientists and team members.

Compensation at Rezo
The expected starting salary range for this position based in San Francisco, California for Associate Director/Director level is $160,000-$240,000. Actual starting salary will be determined based on multiple job-related factors including candidate's skills, education, and experience, the level at which they are hired, market demand, business needs, and internal parity. This role is eligible for participation in our Annual Discretionary Bonus Plan (based on individual and company performance) and our Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the terms of those plans and associated policies. This position is also eligible for the benefits detailed below.
Benefits at Rezo
Medical (HMO or PPO), dental, and vision insurance
Discretionary time off policy
Company holidays (including summer and winter shutdown)
401(k) retirement savings program
Commuter / Mass Transit Benefit Program
Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Dependent care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Parental leave
Competitive compensation
Flexible work schedule
EEOC
At Rezo we value a diverse, equitable, inclusive workplace and provide equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. This statement covers all facets of employment and is especially important when it comes to growing our team.
If you are wondering if you'll belong at Rezo, or are worried that you don't meet 100% of the qualifications for this role, take a chance on us and yourself - please apply!
SF Fair Chance Ordinance
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Rezo considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.